Protective enclosures for ski bindings

ABSTRACT

Where skis are transported in a fully exposed manner, e.g., on automotive vehicles, the bindings of the skis will be normally exposed to spray water droplets containing certain amounts of the salt used to cause snow and ice to melt on the roads. Therefore, there exists a risk of the ski bindings being subject to corrosion, such corrosion being apt to impair proper operation of the bindings which are intended to serve the purpose of safety devices. Moreover, it has been uncomfortable for skiers to carry unprotected skis on their shoulders, since snow is particularly apt to cling to the bindings, such snow being apt to melt while the skis are being carried, the resulting water draining from the skis and the bindings tending to wet the clothes of the skier. In order to remedy this condition, it is proposed, according to the invention, to enclose the portions of the skis which include the bindings in a tube-like enclosure which is preferably made of a suitable water-impermeable material. According to the invention, such an enclosure is preferably provided, at both ends, with sealing means which are adapted to snugly engage the respective portions of the skis in order to counteract any tendency of the enchosure to move out of position.

United States Becker tet r 1 [54] PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURES FOR SKI BINDINGS [76] lnventor: Herrmann Becker, 10 Miesingstrasse, 8166 Neuhaus near Schliersee, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 123,676

[52] US. Cl. ..280/l1.37 K, 135/33 C, 150/52 R, 224/5 Z, 224/45 S [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..280/11.37 K, 11.37 A, 280/1137 R, 11.37 E; 150/52 R; 135/33 C,

33 R; 224/45 S, 5 Z

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,336,961 8/1967 Welsh ..28()/ll.37 K X 2,486,320 10/1949 Ost ..150/52 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,332,131 6/1963 France ..280/11.37 K

20,293 6/1905 Austria ..l50/52 R Primary ExaminerLeo F riaglia Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney--Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc-

Cord

[57] ABSTRACT Where skis are transported in a fully exposed manner, e.g., on automotive vehicles, the bindings of the skis will be normally exposed to spray water droplets containing certain amounts of the salt used to cause snow and ice to melt on the roads. Therefore, there exists a risk of the ski bindings being subject to corrosion, such corrosion being apt to impair proper operation of the bindings which are intended to serve the purpose of safety devices. Moreover, it has been uncomfortable for skiers to carry unprotected skis on their shoulders, since snow is particularly apt to cling to the bindings, such snow being apt to melt while the skis are being carried, the resulting water draining from the skis and the bindings tending to wet the clothes of the skier. In order to remedy this condition, it is proposed, according to the invention, to enclose the portions of the skis which include the bindings in a tube-like enclosure which is preferably made of a suitable water-impermeable material. According to the invention, such an enclosure is preferably provided, at both ends, with sealing means which are adapted to snugly engage the respective portions of the skis in order to counteract any tendency of the enchosure to move out of position.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURES FOR SKI BINDINGS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protective enclosures for ski bindings.

It is a prerequisite to the proper functioning of modern safety-type ski bindings that the relatively movable parts thereof should function smoothly in the intended manner and that the friction between the relevant parts thereof during the releasing action should never exceed the safe value for which the bindings have been adjusted. The proper releasing action of safety ski bindings may, for example, be impaired by the fact that important cooperating parts of the bindings have been subjected to corrosive action. Where, during the cold season, skis are transported in a fully exposed manner on automotive vehicles, the danger of corrosive is enhanced by spray water containing salt such as is used to cause snow and ice to melt on the roads. Moreover, such spray water is likely to introduce dirt and grit into the bindings, this phenomenon tending still further to increase the risk of malfunctioning of the bindings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART There have been known in the prior art covers in the form of elongated bag-like sheaths in which skis may be accommodated. However, such bag-like covers have primarily been used heretofore for the purpose of protecting the clothing of the skier against the sharpcornered edges of the skis. Since such known enclosures cover the skis contained therein throughout their length, it-is, as a rule, difficult or even impossible to fasten skis contained in such full-length enclosures to the commonly used ski holders mounted on automotive vehicles, since such ski holders are constructed for the purpose of receiving skis which are not provided with any type of covering. Furthermore, the aforementioned bag-like sheaths of known type are made of materials which are not impermeable to humidity, and in view of this fact such sheaths are not adapted to protect ski bindings from spray water which may contain salt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a protective enclosure for ski bindings which is adapted, on the one hand, where skis are being transported on automotive vehicles, effectively to protect the bindings of the skis from salt-containing spray water, and, on the other hand, not to impede or render difficult the fastening of the skis to the commonly used commercial types of ski holders designed for use on automotive vehicles.

The protected ski binding enclosure of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a tubelike cover which is preferably made ofa suitable waterimpermeable material, and which is adapted to be pulled over those portions of a pair of skis in flat-wise engagement with one another which carry the bindings, and that it further comprises sealing means provided at each end of the cover, the sealing means ensuring a tight engagement between the ends of the cover and the adjacent portions of the skis and further preventing any inadvertent removal or displacement of the cover.

The ski binding enclosure of the invention may also be pulled over a pair of skis and brought into alignment with the bindings when the skier intends to carry his skis on his shoulder. This will provide for the bulky and partly sharp-edged component parts of the bindings to be covered by the material of the enclosure, this tending to render the carrying of the skis less uncomfortable. As mentioned earlier in this specification, it is a frequent occurrence that snow lodges on the parts of the bindings, such snow being caused to melt when a skier carries his skis on his shoulder, thus causing wetting of the skiers clothes. Such occurences are also substantially eliminated by the use of the invention, i.e., of the inventive protective ski binding enclosure upon the enclosure having been pulled into position over the bindings.

The sealing means may, for example, comprise elastic rubber bands which are incorporated in the end portions of the said sheath or cover.

An additional possibility of preventing the cover from sliding in relation to the skis, from sliding beyond the bindings, and from being lost under certain circumstances resides, for example, in the provision, at both ends of the cover, of resilient U-shaped fastening members whose limbs extend towards the interior of the cover, the fastening members being adapted to be snapped over the respective longitudinal edge portions of the skis.

In order to facilitate the pulling of the enclosure into position over the skis and the bindings thereof, the cover may be provided, at one end thereof, with a longitudinal slit, the slit having suitable closure means associated therewith. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to split the cover longitudinally throughout its length and to provide suitable closure means adapted to hold together the longitudinal edge portions or margins of the cover defined by the slit. The closure means may, for example, comprise snap fasteners of a known type which are spaced along the said longitudinal edges of the cover.

In the case of the said embodiment which is slit throughout its length, it is convenient to attach the aforementioned U-shaped fastening members to either end of one of the edges formed by the longitudinal slit of the cover.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal edge portions defined by the said slit may be stiffened by suitable means, and U shaped fastening members of the type indicated may be provided on either end of both longitudinal edges of the cover. In the case of this embodiment it is convenient to dispose the said U-shaped fastening members in such a manner that, when the two longitudinal edges of the cover have been brought together, adjacent fastening members are mutually offset in the longitudinal direction of the cover by an amount at least corresponding to the axial width of an individual fastening member so as to prevent mutual interference between the fastening members upon their being snapped into position on the longitudinal edges of the skis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The object of the invention, together with other more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a part-sectional side elevation showing a pair of skis with attached bindings, which bindings are enclosed in a protective ski binding enclosure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates in an isometric view a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 resembles FIG. 2, illustrates, however, a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. is an isometric representation of the embodiment of FIG. 4 which has been developed into the drawing plane;

FIG. 6 shows, in an isometric view, a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 resembles FIG. 5, showing, however, the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It will be seen in FIG. 1 that two skis l and 2 are shown which have been superimposed flatwise with their running surfaces in mutual engagement. It will further be seen that a protective enclosure according to the invention has been pulled into positive over those portions of the skis l, 2 which carry their associated bindings 3 and 4, respectively. This cover or enclosure comprises a covering 5 which is preferably made of a water-impermeable material. There are provided, at both ends 6 and 7 of the covering 5, suitable sealing means (FIG. 2) which ensures a tight engagement be tween the covering end portions 6, 7 and the two skis 1, 2 and which serve to prevent any inadvertnet removal or displacement of the covering 5.

The first embodiment of the protectiveski binding enclosure of the invention comprises a plain tubeor hose-like covering 5 which is not provided with any slit or similar formation. In the end portions 6 and 7 of the covering 5 there are provided elastic bands or straps made of rubber or the like. For use, this embodiment will have to be pulled over they skis from one end thereof and will finally have to be pulled into position over the bindings as well.

A second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 differs from the aforedescribed embodiment of FIG. 2 in that the covering 5 has been split lengthwise. The two longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 thus formed are provided with spaced snap fastener elements permitting the covering to be closed about the ski bindings by fastening the edge portions 8, 9 together. In this second embodiment, too, the ends .6, 7 of the covering 5 are provided with elastic rubber straps forming the sealing means aforesaid.

A third embodiment of a protective ski binding enclosure of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is distinguished from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that at either end of its longitudinal edge portion 9 there is provided a resilient U-shaped fastening member 11 and 12, respectively. The two fastening members 11 and 12 are adapted to be snapped over one of the longitudinal edges of the ski referenced 1 of the pair of skis l, 2. The two U-shaped fastening members serve the function of improving the retention of the protective ski binding enclosure on the pair of skis. FIG. 5 represents a plane development of the protective enclosure of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the elastic rubber straps are referenced l3 and 14, respectively, and are indicated by dash lines.

FIGS. 6 and 7 represent a fourth embodiment of the invention which is provided with stiffened longitudinal edge portions 8 and 9. These reinforcements referenced 15 and 16, respectively, are indicated by dash lines. Since in the case of the fourth embodiment the longitudinal edge portions 8 and 9 are not adapted to be closed by buttons, snap fasteners or the like, either end of each of the longitudinal edge portions is provided with one of four U-shaped fastening members 1 1, 12, 17, 18. As will be seen in the plane development of FIG. 7, the covering 5 is trapezoidal in plan form. With the covering 5 assuming its closed position, this trapezoidal plan form results in adjacent pairs 1 1, 17 and 12, 18 of the fastening members being mutually offset in an axial direction by an amount corresponding at least to the axial width of each individual fastening member. This arrangement avoids any inteference between adjacent fastening members during the snapping thereof onto the longitudinal edges of the skis 1 and 2. In the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the U-shaped fastening members 17 and 18 are snapped onto the upper ski 1, whereas the U-shaped fastening members 11 and 12 are snapped onto the lower ski 2. With the fourth embodiment, in correspondence with the aforedescribed embodiments, the protective cover also serves to hold the skis firmly together so that it is no longer necessary to use separate rubber straps or the like for this purpose.

Having now described the invention and having exemplified the manner in which it can be carried into practice, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, applications, modifications and extension of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and that the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A protective ski. binding enclosure comprising a tube-like covering 5 preferably made of a suitable water-impermeable material, which covering is adapted to be pulled into position over those portions of a pair of skis 1,2 arranged with their running surfaces in flatwise engagement carrying the ski bindings 3, 4, and further comprising sealing means provided at either end portion 6, 7 of said covering, said sealing means ensuring a tight engagement between the ends of said covering on the one hand and the pair of skis on the other, and further serving to prevent any inadvertent removal and- /or undesirable displacement of said covering, and resilient U-shaped fastening members 11, 12, 17, 18 provided at said end portions 6, 7 of said covering which are adapted to be snapped into engagement with the associated longitudinal edge portions of the respective ski l, 2.

2. A protective ski binding enclosure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the covering 5 is split longitudinally to define longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 and said U- shaped fastening members 11, 12 are provided at the two ends 6, 7 of one of the longitudinal edge portions 8, 9.

3. A protective ski binding enclosure asset forth in claim 1 wherein the covering 5 is split longitudinally defining two longitudinal edge portions v8, 9 which are reinforced by stiffening means, and wherein said U- shaped fastening members 11, 12 17, 18 are provided at both ends 6,7 of said two longitudinal edge portions.

4. A protective ski binding enclosure as set forth in claim 3 wherein, with said two longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 of said covering 5 being juxtaposed, adjacent U-shaped fastening members 11, 17; 12, 18 are axially offset in relation to one another by an amount at least corresponding to their individual width in an axial direction. 

1. A protective ski binding enclosure comprising a tube-like covering 5 preferably made of a suitable water-impermeable material, which covering is adapted to be pulled into position over those portions of a pair of skis 1, 2 arranged with their running surfaces in flatwise engagement carrying the ski bindings 3, 4, and further comprising sealing means provided at either end portion 6, 7 of said covering, said sealing means ensuring a tight engagement between the ends of said covering on the one hand and the pair of skis on the other, and further serving to prevent any inadvertent removal and/or undesirable displacement of said covering, and resilient U-shaped fastening members 11, 12, 17, 18 provided at said end portions 6, 7 of said covering which are adapted to be snapped into engagement with the associated longitudinal edge portions of the respective ski 1,
 2. 2. A protective ski binding enclosure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the covering 5 is split longitudinally to define longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 and said U-shaped fastening members 11, 12 are provided at the two ends 6, 7 of one of the longitudinal edge portions 8,
 9. 3. A protective ski binding enclosure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the covering 5 is split longitudinally defining two longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 which are reinforced by stiffening means, and wherein said U-shaped fastening members 11, 12 17, 18 are provided at both ends 6, 7 of said two longitudinal edge portions.
 4. A protective ski binding enclosure as set forth in claim 3 wherein, with said two longitudinal edge portions 8, 9 of said covering 5 being juxtaposed, adjacent U-shaped fastening members 11, 17; 12, 18 are axially offset in relation to one another by an amount at least corresponding to their individual width in an axial direction. 